A perfect day

Sunday's Fall Foliage Festival in downtown Port Jervis was one of the year's great events, attracting thousands.

They came early: More than 100 early birds arrived before 9 a.m., an hour before the festival was scheduled to start.

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And when it ended at 5 p.m., people still hung around visiting, eating hot dogs and funnel cakes, until the vendors and others packed up and left, like a circus moving out of town, leaving pleasant memories behind.

The weather had a lot to do with the crowds. It was a perfect day. Although the calendar said it was the first day of autumn, there was still some summer in the air. The sun was shining after a nippy morning. Families came here by the hundreds. Couples held hands as they browsed. There were more smiles on Front Street than anyone had seen in a long while.

Orange County Sheriff Carl DuBois said he was "amazed" at the turnout and the variety of things. He said he stopped by for a little while and stayed for more than an hour. And that's the way it went for many. Helene Phillips ended up staying three hours, and so did Port Jervis Mayor Gary Lopriore.

Besides a dozen stands where you could catch some food, there were more than 60 vendors — double last year's total. Stilt-walkers towered over the crowds. And music filled the air, with crowd favorites Will Hoppey, Carl Richards and the Skydyne Jazz Project.

One highlight was a chili cook-off sponsored by the Restaurant at 20 Front. More than $1,800 was raised to help pay the medical bills of Hunter Dean. Hunter had open heart surgery earlier this year, when he was six months old. The medical bills have overwhelmed the family.

20 Front gave out hundreds of tastes of chili prepared by several people or organizations. Bon Secours won first prize. And, if anyone captured the hearts of the crowd, it was Hunter, now 1, who scampered up and down the platform in front of the restaurant.

Photos by Chris Farlekas

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Barbara Divack was pretty as a picture strolling through the Festival with her Monet-inspired sun umbrella.

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Neila Smith shows off her beautiful photos of butterflies, which she turns into cards and photos.

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Sally Rowe models one of the colorful shawls she made.

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Catherine Westfall shows off one of her elaborate gift baskets.

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Hunter Dean was the crowd favorite.

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Kirsten Mitchell helps Michael Ey dish out chili as a fundraiser for Hunter Dean, to help pay medical bills.

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Port Jervis Business and Professional Woman of the Year Nancy Mills, right, helps Yvonne Duryea, BPW president, with their booth.

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